Proposed US climate change legislation gets mixed reaction
– climate change legislation they say will create jobs and achieve energy security
while reducing carbon pollution by 17% in 2020 and by over 80% in 2050.
economy, set us on the path toward energy independence and improve the quality
of the air we breathe. It will create millions of good jobs that cannot be shipped
abroad and it will launch America into a position of leadership in the global
clean energy economy.
the money raised right back to American consumers and businesses. This is not
a plan that enriches Wall Street speculators. And this is certainly not a plan
to grow the government.”
It is important to recognize that the US airline industry has adopted a set of
targets and measures as part of the worldwide aviation industry commitment to
a global sectoral approach on aviation emissions. Through this, the US airlines
alone will save more than 16 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through
2050 on top of substantial savings already achieved," said ATA president and CEO
James May. "We trust that if Congress pursues this legislation, it will adopt
this approach versus imposing punitive industry and passenger taxes."
it could not support the proposed legislation because “it will raise the cost
of gasoline and diesel fuel without significantly reducing the output of carbon
dioxide by the trucking industry, which is a non-discretionary user of diesel
fuel.”
Association executive director Brandon Fried warned delegates that the proposed
legislation will have a greater business impact than the 100% air cargo security
screening mandate.
‘‘(1) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense of Senate that the United States
should—
‘‘(A) continue to actively promote, within the International Civil Aviation Organization,
the development of a global framework for the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions
from civil aircraft that recognizes the uniquely international nature of the aviation
sector and treats commercial aviation sectors in all countries fairly; and
foreign carbon emission reduction programs to minimize duplicative measures and
avoids unnecessary complication for the aviation industry, while still achieving
measurable, reportable, and verifiable environmental objectives.
‘‘(A) ADMINISTRATORS.—The term ‘Administrators’ means the Administrators of
the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.
‘air carrier’, ‘foreign air carrier’, and ‘foreign air transportation’ have
the meanings given the terms in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, may establish a
program to distribute compensatory allowances as appropriate for the greenhouse gas
emissions of the fuel used for an air carrier or foreign air carrier engaged
in foreign air transportation, subject to the requirements of this sub-section.
120 days after the end of each of calendar years 2013 through 2050, the Administrators,
in consultation
with the Secretary of State, may jointly determine and distribute a quantity
of compensatory allowances to any entity to the extent that the entity purchased
fuel in the United States during the previous calendar year for the purpose of
engaging in foreign air transportation that originates in the United States,
if—
‘‘(A) the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrators, has determined
that the foreign air transportation in question is covered by a foreign or international
system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
‘‘(B) allowances or offset credits were retired by the Administrator for the
attributable greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel; and
‘‘(C) the compensatory allowances would compensate, in whole or part, for the
costs of complying with the foreign or international system.
‘‘(A) SOURCE OF ALLOWANCES.—Compensatory allowances established under this subsection
shall not be emission allowances established under subsection (a).
‘‘(B) IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.—The Administrator shall assign to each compensatory
allowance established under subparagraph (A) a unique identification number.
‘‘(6) STUDY ON IMPACTS OF INTERNATIONAL AVIATION AGREEMENT.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not
later than 2 years after the date of promulgation of regulations to carry out
the program under paragraph (3), and biennially thereafter, the Administrators
shall complete and submit to Congress a study of the extent to which Federal regulations
are effectively and efficiently regulating the emission of greenhouse gases by
air carriers and foreign air carriers engaged in foreign air transportation that
originates in the United States.
as appropriate, to address ways to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of
the regulations, including whether any changes to the program established under
this subsection should be made.
The Administrator, after notice and opportunity for public comment, and in consultation
with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Administrator
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, may allocate withheld allowances
for the production and consumption of class II, group II substances solely for
aviation and space flight safety purposes.